NEW MINAS, N.S. - The NDP in Nova Scotia says it has dismissed one of its campaign workers for calling a Liberal candidate an "outspoken homophobe."

The New Democrats say Nathaniel Cole was let go today after the party said he used the term in referring to Liberal candidate Keith Irving in an email.

NDP candidate Ramona Jennex says Cole was working for her campaign when he sent the email to Acadia Pride, a student group at Acadia University in Wolfville.

The Liberals provided a copy of an email which said Jennex, the education minister, would be interested in meeting with members of the group to discuss issues on campus and further her work with the gay community in the Annapolis Valley.

The email goes on to say that Jennex is running against "the outspoken homophobe Keith Irving" in the riding of Kings-South.

Irving issued a statement saying the allegation was unfounded and hurtful.

Jennex says she fired Cole, a paid NDP worker, as soon as she learned of the email and phoned Irving to apologize.